Jack is an artist/musician who won the jackpot 5 years ago when he was called off the waitlist for the Times Square Hotel. It is an SRO (single-resident occupancy) run by a great non-profit housing developer called Common Ground.

Common Ground took over this mid-town building to provide low cost housing in Manhattan for the formerly homeless, as well as low-income artists, actors, and dancers. The building has public amenities such as a piano, a dark-room and a huge roof deck, but Jack’s apartment is only 10’x16’!

When Jack first saw the space, he said “no way, it’s just too small. I can’t even get my bike in here.” Now, 5 years later, he has learned lessons of minimalism, organization, and priority. “I have enjoyed doing without so many of the things we all think we need. I think my apartment's content reflects that,” explains Jack.

Jack acknowledges that to live in such a small space, it’s helpful to “find beauty in one particular thing”. If Jack buys a t-shirt, he has to weed out the old, unwanted ones before the new one will fit into his space.

In the early 90’s, Jack partnered with another artist to form Pruitt-Early. After a number of successes, they had a show at Leo Castelli that failed due to a misunderstanding. “I dropped out of the art and world and joined a rock band. I lost every thing after that show but found I could live without all the clutter that life often brings, and that I could write music." This year, Jack has returned to the visual arts. He is going to use his shower as a studio in which to build paper mache sculptures.

Years lived in: 5Inspiration: treehouses and houseboatsFavorite Room: there is only one roomMost embarrassing: no bathroom doorProud DIY: built the shelvesFound Treasure: found my bed on the streetHad Forever: my guitarMost Talked About Element:that it has a feeling of opennessJust Got: a filing cabinetNever Live Without: a coffee grinderI am the most comfortable in: the only roomI change the sheets most frequently.Right now, I'd most like to update: my laptopMy favorite piece of furniture: my Danish valetI am the most proud of: the shelves I built based on Donald Judd’s sculptureMy favorite home resource is: LeCorbusierBest home-related advice I've ever gotten: Rome was not built in a day, better to do without than to storeBest home-related advice I've ever given: less is moreI most enjoy looking at other people's homes because: I like to see how they decorateThree words to describe my home: come on in

To hear some of Jacks music written with kids in mind visit http://www.myspace.com/walterjacksonearlyjrJack Early is represented by E31 Gallery in Athens Greece. For information about his work contact e31art@otenet.gr